Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
VIEWPOINT: Planning a Benevolent Business Exit
If you’re a business owner, at some point you may begin thinking about an exit strategy. Sometimes that strategy presents itself in the form of an unplanned, unsolicited buyer. Before you engage any potential acquirers, you might want to explore the benefits of contributing an ownership interest in your business to a donor-advised fund or […]
VIEWPOINT: Supporting woman-owned small businesses is good for the economy
Women entrepreneurs are vital for worldwide economic recovery. In 2021, more than 40 percent of entrepreneurs offering innovative products in the U.S. were women, and women entrepreneurs were 84 percent more likely than men to utilize new technology in their early-stage startups. Studies have shown that if women participated in entrepreneurship at the same rate
VIEWPOINT: I think I have a problem … with problems
I see them everywhere I look — in the news, on television talk shows, and even in academia, where most of us were likely the beneficiary of many years of problem-solving practice. Math tests asked us to solve countless problems: find the value of X in a complicated algebra passage, for example. We learned the
Ask Rusty: How Do I Withdraw My Application for Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I will be 67 [soon] and reached my full retirement age in July 2022. My wife and I are discussing whether we should take Social Security now or wait until we are age 70 to get a higher benefit. I remember reading that you can start Social Security and, if not needed, pay
Ask Rusty: What’s the Best Way to Start Receiving My Survivor Benefit?
Dear Rusty: When one becomes a widow/widower, what is the most efficient way to start receiving the deceased’s monthly Social Security. Signed: Still Grieving Dear Still Grieving: There is really only one way to start receiving surviving spouse benefits — you must contact Social Security (SS) directly to apply. You can call (800) 772-1213 or
VIEWPOINT: NYS Pay-Transparency Law Amendments Signed into Law
On March 3, 2023, a bill (https://legislation.nysenate.gov/pdf/bills/2023/S1326) amending the New York State pay-transparency law was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul. It reflects changes that the governor requested in exchange for her approval of the law in December 2022. The effective date of the amendments are the same as the original version of the
VIEWPOINT: 6 best practices for evaluating creative project proposals
The meeting is about to begin. The creative team has spent days, weeks — maybe even months — massaging their concepts, tactics, and messaging into the perfect presentation. You can see the beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, signaling something big is at stake here. The speakers speak, and the ideas miss the mark.
What ChatGPT & other generative AI tools mean for HR teams
For the last [few] months, ChatGPT has taken the internet by storm. You can’t browse Instagram or Facebook without seeing a demonstration of something ChatGPT did to amaze a new user: write a stock-trading program, complete an AP English essay, or create a science-based workout program. Hundreds of journalists have hypothesized its implications since ChatGPT
Ask Rusty: About Social Security’s “First Year Rule”
Dear Rusty: I’m considering filing for my Social Security (SS) at age 64 in February, before my full retirement age of 66 years and 10 months. I’m working full time and would like to continue earning until I meet the $21,240 limit for this year. When does the $21,240 limit go into effect? Does it
VIEWPOINT: Governor Hochul Vetoes Changes to Wrongful-Death Law
On Jan. 31, 2023, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill designed to dramatically overhaul the state’s wrongful-death statute by permitting the family members of wrongful-death victims to recover for emotional distress. Under the current law, economic recovery for wrongful-death claims is primarily limited to the lost earning potential of the deceased individual. The Grieving
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.